Use of Modals in Academic Use of Modals in Academic Writing

Use of Modals in Academic Writing ESL Workshop Presented by Dana Atwell, Atwell ESL Coordinator

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Academic Writing Asks yyou to: Analyze S th i Synthesize Interpret Discuss Explore Expand Infer To see how you respond to information

Interpretation vs. vs Fact Interpret p => make claims => offer ideas, possibilities, suggestions (Present findings which may not be the only way to view something) Fact = p provable,, certain,, reproducible p When interpret, allow for the reader or other experts to draw conclusions too too. Accept possibility of other positions.

Conclusions from a study While the findings g of this study y seem in line with the studies that have come before there were a number of concerning issues. First, surveys should be people p acting g as p participants, p not by y administered to p friends posing as participants in order to diminish the number of “prank” responses. In life, some participants pranksters,, so is chalked up p to individual differences. are p Second, it is more reliable to have another rater… To be more useful, a study of this nature needs further, and more p prudent research. That notwithstanding, g, this study y shows that pragmatic competence is important and relevant to course design.

Conclusions from a study While the findings g of this study y seem in line with the studies that have come before there were a number of concerning issues. First, surveys should be people p acting g as p participants, p not by y administered to p friends posing as participants. This could diminish the number of “prank” responses. In life, some participants pranksters,, so this might g be chalked up p to individual are p differences. Second, it would be more reliable to have another rater… To be more useful, a study of this nature would need further,, and more prudent p research. That notwithstanding, this study is pedagogically interesting because teachers may decide instruction in pragmatic p should be built into the course design. g competence

Will

would

can

could

shall

Modals Modals = verbs that offer shades of meaning Modals express varying degrees of possibility or certainly about a statement Modals can improve your credibility

should

mayy

might g

must

Form: Modals Invariable – do not change in number F ll Followed db by b base fform off main i verb b (should do do)) or helping verb + main verb ( h ld be (should b doing) doing d i ) Never insert “to” between modal + verb

When used with “not” not 1. Modal + not + verb

might g not attend

2. Informal writing (emails) Î contract can + not = can’t ’ will + not = won’t would + not = wouldn wouldn’tt should + not = shouldn’t could cou d + not ot = cou couldn’t d t 3. Formal writing (proposals, papers, business letters) Î full f ll fform can + not = cannot

Examining Your Position Are you an expert? Examine your evidence, your background to determine how committed you are to your interpretation. Who would say each of the following: 1 1. Th erosion The i may h have b been caused db by th the wind. i d 2. The erosion must have been caused by the wind.

Scale of Certainty could/might may should must will

weak inference/ low possibility stronger/perhaps quite possibly stronger/perhaps, strong/ moderate possibility, probable very strong/ certainly strongest/ very certainly

It ______ rain today. could/might

may

should

must

will

Lower End of Scale of Probability might may won’t/ wouldn’t can’t/couldn’t

low possibility

Impossibility

Past time To express degrees of possibility about past time, use: might may might, may, could could, should should, would Iff the results had come in sooner, it might have made a difference. ff vs. If the results come tomorrow, it may make a difference.

Exercise Use a modal verb in place of the underlined words and phrases. You might need to reconstruct the sentence rather than substitute words. Example: It is certain that the sales tax is going to increase next year. Answer: Sales tax will increase next year. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Th scientist The i i found f d iit iimpossible ibl to present her h analysis l i b because she h h had d not collected all her data. There is a low possibility that the shipment arrived yesterday afternoon. It is quite likely that locally locally--grown tomatoes are available at the farmer’s market. It is surely not possible that he is the person they hired! It has rained for four days, so it is highly probably that the ground is very ggy soggy. He is likely to see benefits from his exercise program. The winds are increasing at an alarming rate so there is a high probability that a tornado is on the way.

Raimes, Ann. Grammar Troublespots Troublespots.. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004. 75.

Answer Key 1. 2. 3. 4 4. 5. 6. 7 7.

The scientist couldn’t present her analysis… The shipment might have arrived yesterday afternoon. Locally grown tomatoes should be available… He can’t can t be the person they hired! …so the ground must be very soggy. He should see benefits from his exercise program… …so so a tornado must be on the way way.

Raimes, Ann. Grammar Troublespots. Troublespots. New York: Cambridge g University y Press, 2004. 178.

Alternatives & Supplements Suggest gg – This studyy suggests gg that …. Seem – Cisneros seems to imply… pp – The results appear pp to show … Appear Indicate – This high passage rate indicates …. Use “I “I” – I believe this evidence points to …. “While While…, …, …” sentences – While I conclude X, others might conclude Y. Y.

Summary Modals Î shade meaning M Many contexts t t (requesting, ( ti recommending, di expressing ability, academic writing) Modal + Verb Never modal + modal +verb or modal + to +verb

Further Resources 1 http://www.englishpage.com/modals/moda 1.http://www.englishpage.com/modals/moda 1. http://www englishpage com/modals/moda lintro.html 2 http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/grammar/ar 2.http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/grammar/ar 2. http://www learnenglish org uk/grammar/ar chive/modal_verbs01.html 3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_modal 3.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_modal 3. htt // iki di / iki/E li h d l _auxiliary_verb 4. Your writing handbook